Redlands council signs ferry funding agreement, mayor hits back at Transport Minister

But mayor Karen Williams has hit back at Transport Minister Mark Bailey after he criticised council for dragging its feet on the agreement.

The project includes upgrading or replacing the terminals - including jetties, gangways and pontoons - on Russell, Macleay, Lamb and Karragarra islands over four years. Plans also include repurposing existing ferry pontoons for recreational uses such as fishing and mooring.

For years, council and the state government debated who should fund the terminal upgrades.

Mayor Karen Williams told the Redland City Bulletin in 2018 that ratepayers would be financially crippled if council footed the bill for SMBI ferry infrastructure.

But Redlands MP Kim Richards said it was common for south-east councils to be asked to contribute to the costs of upgrading public transport infrastructure.

In August 2019, Ms Richards said the council had agreed to fork out $13.6 million for terminal upgrades, while the state would pay $20.5 million

A council spokesperson said since then, council and the state government had negotiated the agreement, of which the funding split was one part.

"The document outlines the contract between parties, and details things such as risk allocation, cost overruns, dispute resolution, variations and the responsibilities each party has under the agreement," the spokesperson said.

"The draft Deed of Agreement is now with the state government for consideration. The information in the Deed is confidential until it has been finally agreed and signed."

Cr Williams said council hoped the department would sign the deed quickly so the projects could get under way.

"We are keen for that to happen without delay, especially as funding is available through the Passenger Transport Infrastructure Investment Program."

Earlier this week, Transport Minister Mark Bailey claimed council had delayed signing the agreement.

"The Redlands Council needs to stop gasbagging and get on with signing it ASAP before its election caretaker provisions kick and the campaign period starts," he said.

"Otherwise the mayor and the council will be holding up this important Redlands investment by the Palaszczuk Labor government for months unnecessarily."

But Cr Williams labelled Mr Bailey's comments ill-informed and embarrassing.

"The draft is currently sitting with the Department of Transport and Main Roads for final review," she said.

"It is very concerning that a Minister who is meant to work with councils to deliver transport infrastructure doesn't understand how council resolutions and caretaker provisions work."

Division 5's Cr Mark Edwards thanked the community for its input which had informed the terminals' detailed designs.

He said the terminal upgrades were a daily necessity for island residents and were vital to the Redlands' economic future.

"I'm looking forward to construction starting as soon as possible on the Russell Island ferry terminal, which will be the first to undergo an upgrade."